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Greaves & Thomas, fine Globemakers,
a potted history.
Award winning Globemakers Greaves &
Thomas are a small company based in the United Kingdom, today they make
Historical Globes, Celestial Globes, Lunar Globes, Planetary Globes,
Facsimile Globes, Replica Globes, Themed Globes, Paper Folding Globes,
and Modern Day Globes. Arts Corespondent Jemmy Button looks into their
history.
In 1991 James Bissell-Thomas after several
years of research, published his first globe (Merzbach
& Falk's 1881 globe). The globe was well received,
especially because of the ageing techniques developed to lend the globes
a patina producing a convincing replica. James Bissell-Thomas believes
that this was achieved because of his Art School background, his printing
knowledge gained running his own publishing house in the 1980's (Long
Tail Prints) combined with his knowledge as an antiques dealer. In 1991
the first globe joined an already existing eclectic range of furnishing
ideas which included Giant Tennis Rackets, Rivercraft furniture, Hat
Boxes etc. (most are still being made: www.gtstore.co.uk)
. It was because of James
Bissell-Thomas' interest in globes, that the decision was then made
to form a collection of globes, spanning cartographic history from 1492
to the present day.
At the time James' knowledge in globes was
poor, however a good friend at the Royal Geographical Society pointed
out that the following year (1992) would be not only be the 500 year
anniversary of the European discovery of the New World, but it would
also be the anniversary of the earliest surviving terrestrial globe
~ Martin Behaim's 'Erdapfel'. This globe today resides in the Germanishes
Museum in Germany, rightly described by Bissell-Thomas as the 'Holy
Grail' of all globes, not just because of its age, but also because
of the profusion of data inscribed on the globe, the globe is best described
as a medieval geographical census describing the world beyond Europe,
listing the origin of spices, metals, traditions, peoples, animals,
islands and religions etc. not only this but the globe covered in beautiful
illustrations by Glockendon.
Despite the globe being on an elaborate stand,
with extremely detailed artwork, Greaves & Thomas still decided
it would be wise to republish this fine relic. Appointments were then
made with the Germanisches Museum and flights were booked. On arrival
at the museum in September 1991, it transpired that the Germanisch Museum
had its own globe publishing interest and was not interested in helping
G&T achieve their goal. Consequently, they were given a very limited
time to study the original globe and reference images they also commissioned
from the Museum were later blocked and never arrived. While many would
have given up, Greaves & Thomas decided that it would persevere,
knowing that what ever they produced would ultimately be compared to
a rival globe that would have the Museum's seal of approval. All possible
data concerning the globe was sourced and the finished result once again
was well received, and is today is considered one of the most important
globes in their collection.
In August 1992 when the Martin
Behaim Globe was completed, Bissell-Thomas proudly informed
the Germanish Museum that despite their reluctance to help, he had succeeded
in making their facsimile. Soon after this 3 overseas business men arranged
to come and see their Behaim Globe, at the time Greaves & Thomas
was trading from 2 small garages in a small muddy yard, then even the
two garages were not room enough, and a small 12' white square marquee
had been hurriedly erected in the yard as a temporary measure. When
the visitors arrived, they spent considerable time inspecting the globe,
and then had an impromptu board meeting by themselves in the rain in
the muddy yard, they re-entered, and announced that 2 of them were presidents
of two globe companies, Rath Globes from Germany and Cram Globes from
the USA. They informed Greaves & Thomas that they had been working
with the Gemanishes Museum to produce their facsimile version, however
upon inspection of the globe, they stated that they were keen to cease
production of their own efforts and to market the G &T globe. This
they did, with considerable success including selling one example to
the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Not only this, but the Gemanishes
Museum also ordered a globe for themselves.
Greaves & Thomas have, on more than one
occasion, offered to make the Germanische Museum's version, which would
be one step closer to the original, but to date they have declined.
The Greaves & Thomas version can now be found in numerous museums
around the world.
From this point onwards, Greaves and Thomas
would only concentrate on globes, initially historical globes but soon
branching into themed globes: Holbein's
Terrestrial Globe; Shakespeare's
Globe; Alice's
Celestial Globe and lastly the ludicrous Elvis
Presley Mars Globe is another example of the diversity
that can be achieved in globemaking, if one cares to explore the possibility
of producing something other than the norm.
Today alongside their Themed Globes, Historical
Replica Globes and their Modern Day Globes, Greaves & Thomas have
also added the spectacular 'Hermetic
Globe'
to their Collection and this will soon be followed by a production version
of their amazing Invisible
Globe.
Greaves & Thomas now also have now formed
an interesting collection of globes made in the last 300 years by other
globemakers, this 500 strong collection will soon be prominently displayed
in the Museum that they are presently preparing on the Isle of Wight.
This should be a Mecca for designers as it will show numerous different
versions of the same object. Not only this, but they will be using the
Sistine Chapel's ceiling as inspiration to make a stunning celestial
ceiling, and at the same time show one of the finest optical illusions
in the world.
A surprising aspect of Greaves & Thomas
is that they produce all their Globes in the UK. While numerous companies
in the UK now relocate their production to the far east, in order to
survive in today's cut throat market, G&T continue to produce a
quality product which is well received. Their workforce never more than
5 craftpersons, and the globes they offer are limited by craft instead
of number, this is verified in the small numbers of certain globes produced
each year ( for example 2-6 Coronelli Globes per year and 5-12 Behaim
Iron Stand Versions per year) , consequently there is always a waiting
list for the larger more intricate globes that Greaves & Thomas
produce. The globes are made using recycled papers and the wooden components
for the elaborate stands are also made using reclaimed / recycled timber.
Consequently Greaves & Thomas globes will never cost the Earth.
Jemmy Button, Arts Corespondent
TO
VIEW THE G&T GLOBE COLLECTION CLICK HERE!